Final answer:
The question pertains to the role and regulations of the temporary worker industry, emphasizing shared responsibilities for temporary workers' rights between staffing agencies and host employers. The growth in temp agencies has reduced unemployment rates by acting as a bridge for workers to permanent positions, with temp positions often including trial periods that could lead to long-term employment benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discussion involves the evolving landscape of the temporary worker industry and its impact on employment practices and economic systems. Regarding temporary employees potentially becoming eligible for clients' benefits, the question touches on labor laws and employer responsibilities. Under certain circumstances, temp workers may indeed become eligible for benefits akin to those offered to permanent employees.
Responsibility for temporary workers is shared between the staffing agencies and the host employers. Both are accountable for compliance with workplace health and safety requirements, safeguarding worker safety and health. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces these standards and could hold both the staffing agency and the host employer liable for violations.
The growth in the temporary worker sector, which rose from approximately 0.5% of all workers in the early 1980s to over 2% by the early 2000s, has been credited with reducing the natural rate of unemployment, including frictional unemployment. Temp agencies not only provide immediate employment for those seeking permanent positions but also facilitate a trial period with potential employers, often serving as a pathway to long-term employment.
On the employer's side, a common strategy is to institute a trial or probationary period at the onset of employment. During this phase, the employer has the discretion to dismiss the employee with or without cause, and often, the pay may be lower than what is provided after the trial period ends. This serves as a protective measure against ineffective hires.